The great Scottish explorer, Mungo Park, set out from a point near here (a memorial pillar marks the spot) to trace the source of the Niger. He first stayed here in 1795, learning several local languages to prepare for his journey. He set off with just a few servants and experienced many hardships on his way but never found the source of the river.
In 1801 he returned here and set off again with a larger force however many of his men died on the way and Mungo Park and the last of his men perished in Eastern Nigeria. The pillar marks the spot from where he set out on this last expedition.
